Turning now to state politics, the House passed a piece of priority legislation on Friday, but with a change that could overhaul the school boards of Kentucky's two largest school districts.

Some Louisville Democrats crossed party lines in support of the measure.

But another Lexington lawmaker was not pleased with the changes.

Our Emily Sisk has more on Senate Bill four and tonight's legislative update.

Senate Bill four, in its original form, initiates a principal leadership program for new school principals.

But a house change targets the Jefferson and Fayette County school boards, requiring the state treasurer to appoint two school board members with financial backgrounds to each board.

There's gonna be a combination of five elected and, and two appointed.

A two appointed will be coming from the state treasurer.

That those individuals have to have at least ten years of financial background, experience and understanding, for them to be, not a but for them to be appointed to the boards.

Both Jefferson and Fayette County public Schools have been in the headlines for budget shortfalls in the districts.

Senate Bill four would change the number of elected board members in Jefferson County.

Redrawing the district to bring the total to five.

A Louisville Democrat raised concern that this could set a precedent for more school board changes.

Do you anticipate that if we passed this bill, it'll be a slippery slope where we continue to take away more and more elected positions, add more appointed, continue to tinker, with Jefferson County Public Schools.

I can tell you flat out, I'm not going down the point of process for the whole board.

I just think that's taken away the election process.

Several Democrats crossed party lines to support the measure, including Representative Tina Bogan, who teaches in Jefferson County.

We need to.

Do something to increase the confidence in Jefferson County public schools, both in this body and in the community.

I support this bill, despite the angst that it may cause me for taking this vote.

But we have to do something.

Another key part of the revised legislation is that teachers who reside in one district, but teach in another, would not be able to serve on the school board where they live.

This would effectively oust Fayette County School Board Chair Tyler Murphy, who teaches in Boyle County.

He has come under fire in recent months over the district's financial handling.

Lexington Democrat voiced her opposition to this rule.

When you vote to take away somebody's right to run for office, we are not doing good things for the Commonwealth.

But a Nicholasville Republican praised the legislation, saying it was time for the General Assembly to step in and act on behalf of the state's largest school district.

I have heard from countless, teachers and parents and students out of Fayette County begging, asking for our help, asking for us to step in and do something.

And I believe the Senate, Bill four is a great first step because we have to step in.

Representative Lockett filed an impeachment petition against Tyler Murphy, seeking to remove him as Fayette County School Board chair.

The House impeachment committee has not issued a recommendation in that case.

Lockett was the only lawmaker representing Fayette County who voted yes on Senate bill for the measure, passed on a 74 to 15 vote.

It will return to the Senate to consider the bills changes for Kentucky edition.

I'm Emily Sisk.

Thank you so much, Emily.

Now, speaking of Fayette County schools, the districts later could be leaving.

Kentucky Superintendent Demetrius Liggins is a finalist for a position in Missouri.

Hazelwood School District says Liggins is one of three candidates for its superintendent job.

All three will participate in a forum at the end of this month.

The school district intends to announce its decision on April the 1st.

Hazelwood has about 16,000 students.

That's less than half the size of Fayette County's public education system.

Liggins has led Fayette County Public Schools since 2021.

He is the 2026 Kentucky Superintendent of the year and was a finalist for the National Superintendent of the year.

Last month, an independent report found Liggins failed to fully comply with school board policy.

When the state's second largest public school district found itself facing a $16 million budget deficit, the same report also found no evidence to suggest Liggins intentionally withheld information from the board.